After much debate around dates and venues—and fears it may not happen at all—the rugby league World Club Challenge is officially back.
The clash between 2025 NRL premiers Brisbane Broncos and 2025 Super League champions Hull Kingston Rovers has been confirmed for early 2026 and will take place for the first time since Wigan defeated Penrith 16-12 in 2024.
Brisbane has won the World Club Challenge twice in the club’s history and last featured in 2007 losing 18-14 to St. Helens in Manchester.
Hull KR will be making its World Club Challenge debut in a massive moment for the Yorkshire club.
When is the rugby league World Club Challenge being played?
The match will be played on Thursday, February 19—that’s nine days before Hull KR play Leeds Rhinos as part of the 2026 Las Vegas Weekend and roughly two weeks before the Brisbane Broncos play their opening match of the 2026 NRL season.
The match will kick off at 7.30pm local time (GMT) which is 5.30am on Friday, February 20 in Queensland (AEST) and 6.30am (AEDT).
Where is the rugby league World Club Challenge being played?
The match will be played at MKM Stadium in the city of Kingston upon Hull in England.
Curiously, MKM Stadium is actually the home ground of Hull KR’s arch rivals in the Super League, Hull FC, with a fan capacity of around 25,000.
The stadium was chosen due to having a significantly larger capacity than Hull KR’s own home ground, Craven Park, which can only hold 11,000 fans.
What is the history of the rugby league World Club Challenge?
The first ever clash between Australian and English premiership winners actually took place in June 1976 when the Eastern Suburbs Roosters defeated St. Helens 25-2 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
However, the first official ‘World Club Challenge’ match took place 13 years later when English side Widnes Vikings beat the Canberra Raiders 30–18 at Old Trafford in October 1989.
29 matches have been played with English sides currently holding the advantage 15 wins to 14.
The most successful teams are the Sydney Roosters and Wigan Warriors who have both won the title of ‘world’s best rugby league club side’ on five occasions.
What do the clubs think about competing in the rugby league World Club Challenge?
“It’s a very special opportunity to take a group of players and staff across to the other side of the world to take on the Super League champions. As a club, we are very motivated to bring the World Club trophy home to Brisbane, just like we did with the NRL and NRLW Premierships.”
Michael Maguire, Broncos NRL Head Coach
“We will be representing Super League, not just Hull KR—what a huge honour. The teams who have done it in the past have done it in the right way and we will go out to win that game no matter what.”
Willie Peters, Hull KR Super League Head Coach
“We’re determined to put on the biggest Rugby League event the city has ever seen, with world class entertainment on and off the field at a sold out MKM Stadium.”
Paul Larkin, Hull KR Chief Executive